Sold February 2023 Back to Archive

Designed by C.B.Collet in 1938 as a lighter alternative to the Halls and Granges - both successful designs but, with "red dot" axle loadings, restricted in their route availability.

The 7800 class provided locomotives which, with their 17 ton axle loading, could access much more of the network, performing duties previously carried out by Churchward's Class 4300 Mogul (regular readers may remember a fabulous 7 1/4 inch gauge example we sold back in 2020).

An initial batch of twenty locomotives were built at Swindon - completed by early 1939, a further batch of twenty engines had to be postponed with the outbreak of war. Development work to fine tune the design had to wait several years, when changes to draughting improved performance; a further batch of ten locomotives were built at Swindon in 1950 following nationalisation.

A versatile design, no fewer than nine examples have survived into preservation, including No.7084 "Bradley Manor", based at the Severn Valley Railway.

The locomotive is in excellent condition, having had recent mechanical overhaul and repaint to a high standard. The boiler has had hydraulic and steam tests in recent days with new certification issued.

The engine runs as well as it looks, free-steaming with well-defined exhaust beats - there's some video of it on the rolling road here.

The previous owner used the locomotive for GL5 events, the tender is complete with seat and detachable footrests for ground level running if required.